Saturday, April 30, 2011

this post is one day early... but Veda is two months old!!! (tomorrow)

here is miss Q at 2 monthsme... when Q was 2 months oldX at 2 months olddave when x was 2 months. i know... he's mighty fine. i love his hair like thismiss V at 2 months. sorry... no pic of dave or i the past few days. just imagine us :)

Friday, April 29, 2011

"Do a favor and Don't Ask For, or Expect, One in Return.So often, either consciously or unconsciously, we want something from others, especially when we have done something for them-- "I cleaned the bathroom, she should clean the kitchen." Or "I took care of her child last week, she should offer this week." It's almost as though we keep score of our own good deeds rather than remembering that giving is it's own reward. When you do something nice for someone, just to do it, you'll notice (if you're quiet enough inside yourself) a beautiful feeling of ease and peace. Just as vigorous exercise releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good physically, your acts of loving-kindness release the emotional equivalent. You don't need something in return or even a 'thank you.' In fact, you don't even need to let the person know what you have done."

The crazy thing, is that my mom and i were just talking about this this morning. I think i was complaining about how I've done some things lately that other people haven't even acknowledged. Then I remembered the chapter of this book-- and thought "oh yeah... I should have done the deed because I knew it was the right thing to do, not because I needed a thank you." I have a long way to go. My mom mentioned her grandma-- how she was so giving and thoughtful and did lots of kind things for people. I can only hope that someday people remember me for that quality. My sister-in-law Sarah, is a good example of this too. She is constantly watching my kids. Almost every time I see her she offers to have them over. I'm sure it's not because I return the favor-- because I'm awful at offering to watch other people's kids. (i think because my own kids overwhelm me... the thought of more running around makes me want to pee my pants). Sarah NEVER asks for anything in return. And of course, I hope that I can somehow repay her kindness, she is a great example of how to give without wanting anything in return or making me feel indebted to her.I hope that I can work on this-- I think it's an awesome quality to have.

My dad emailed me this picture last night. It's a picture of my mom. Crazy, huh? Quinn looks so much like her.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

so... I don't know if I should even do this post. I've been reading this book (that we've had on our bookshelf for years) and I've found a lot of it really insightful. And it probably just seems interesting to me since I need some 'self-help' right now, but I thought it might help me to internalize the information if I share it. There are a lot of interesting topics, so I thought I would maybe just share a thought or two for a few days until I've posted them all.The first one is to "Be Happy where you are.We tell ourselves we'll be happy when our bills are paid, when we get out of school, get our first job, a promotion. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough-- we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. And on and on and on! The truth is, there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way."

Dave and I were just talking about this. How for a long time we'd say, "things will be easier in six months," and of course we were just as stressed and unhappy. I think that this is such a great thing to remember. Enjoy where you are. Every stage of your kids, every stage of marriage, every stage of starting a business, or owning a home. Someday, we'll have a couch in our bonus room, and someday Dave will have his dream motorcycle. But until then, I am going to try and enjoy sitting on the floor with my kids, and watching Dave drive safely away in the Kia. :)

and just so this post isn't picture-less, here's an old one of the kiddos

this morning after my shower, I walked by Quinn's room to find the kids both in Quinn's bed. With the light off and the lamp on. They were reading books together. So cute. Quinn said that they were on a campout, and it was just for little kids-- not grown ups. So I left them to it, but wished I had grabbed my camera to capture the cute moment. oh well...

and something funny that Quinn said the other day. The Easter bunny had brought her a pack of gum. It is one of those new dessert kinds that is flavored like strawberry shortcake. After chewing it for a minute, she went to spit it out and said "mommy, I don't like that kind because it makes me want to swallow it."

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

what do you do when your 4 year old sadly walks out of preschool because the zipper broke off her (99 cent) backpack?? you say: "don't worry, mommy will make you a new back pack!" While driving home from preschool, I had visions of making her a de-lux back pack with a zipper. Then I got home and reality kicked in. I had about an hour to bust out a backpack while Hendrix and Veda were sleeping (and of course Veda woke up before I finished..). don't mind my blurry photo and her carrot stained mouth. I had no time for cleaning her up after lunch, there was a back pack to make. I used THIS tutorial.Veda and her blue eyes. (and a new headband) :)

CHECK OUT when Quinn wore this onesie... she was 4 1/2 months old.. and it's swimming on her. and Veda is wearing it now at 8 weeks. I'm sure I'll have lots of these comparisons since Veda has lots of hand-me-downs from her peanut-big-sister.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

the Easter bunny stopped by our house yesterday. Boy, was it exciting. Here is Quinn's excited face after Dave told her that he had heard a bunny hopping around upstairs.after much searching-- she found the Easter baskets!i love X in this shot... getting a good look.

the Easter bunny must know that hendrix likes truckslining them up. and, quite sadly, hendrix is super sick again... maybe i wouldn't be so crazy about germs if my kids would just get a little runny nose. that never happens. he has a horrible wheezing cough, bad runny nose, fever and can't sleep all night since he's so sick.

The easter bunny gave quinn all these little farm animals. she has become quite attached. they have eaten dinner with us, taken a bath with the kids, got tucked into their own special bed last night...... and even ate breakfast at the table this morning.

Friday, April 22, 2011

i felt like doing a post, but don't have any new pictures. hmm... here's one of hendrix i took a few days ago. at least part of his face is showing. he was playing in his crib because i was rearranging his bedroom.

some random things that have been on my mind:*did ya'll know that Veda has blue eyes? my only blue-eyed child. Thanks dave for her blue eyes... so cute (on both of you)

*I think I have a mental problem concerning germs. I know that it's normal to not want to get sick. But I think it makes me avoid being around people and having friends because I'm always worried that my kids are gonna get sick. Even though I'm crazy, my kids are still ALWAYS getting sick. It sucks.

*I REALLY want one of THESE. If only I had some extra money lying around. Too bad we spend all of our money on having babies and fixing my teeth since having babies destroys them.

*I miss sewing. I know that I'll have time again someday, but I'm used to sewing a LOT. And I miss it. I just need a few more hours in the day... that I'm not holding or nursing a baby, since the few minutes I've found to sew lately, I've been holding Veda too. :) and of course I don't regret the hours a day I spend holding and nursing her. It'll go by too fast.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

the kids are being good (knock on wood), and Veda is sleeping peacefully in my moby wrap, so I thought I'd put up some more pictures (pictures of t-shirts aren't as cute as my kids)here are a few of sweet little Veda. We are feeling very blessed. She is a baby, so of course she cries and fusses, but she's so good. Last night she slept from 10:30 til 5 am. pretty sweet huh? The funny problem, is that it's honestly hard for me to stay up until 10:30. ha... but I'll take what I can get. She's STILL pooping at night.. when does this stop?? I swear my other kids stopped pooping at like 4 weeks old... am I wrong?? tell me it's coming soon. Last night was obviously good-- she didn't poop until she woke up at 5. But she has been a major nighttime pooper. Sometimes 4 a night. She has been awesome at going out in public. she usually sleeps the whole time, and is great in the car, unlike Quinn was as an infant. And dave has the MAGIC touch for rocking her the sleep. He's seriously amazing. She must be a daddy's girl.this is obviously an old picture. Taken back when she could have actually fit in the bathroom sink. This was taken after her head incision, so I was trying not to get her head wet-- hence the sink bath.another favorite of her from the photo shoot. We got our prints in the mail that we ordered. Holy cow-- they are beautiful. We used MPix to print them. They have this metallic paper that is awesome. It makes them look super reflective and clear. Plus, it's not that much more expensive than using walgreens or something to print pictures. and the cutest little baby tights ever. You gotta love GAP clearance :)

Quinn's cousin Levi is turning 4 today!! His Horse Birthday Party is on Saturday and Quinn is supposed to dress up like a cowboy. We don't really have any cowboy attire, so I made her this shirt. I think she's gonna look pretty dang cute. I'm also making her a bandana to wear around her neck (almost done, just haven't finished putting the velcro on) It's yellow and white. I'll take a picture of her before the party, I'm sure. i was going to go and stay at the party, but Quinn informed me today sometimes it's more fun if she's by herself. sad. my baby is growing up :( but at least she'll have a cute shirt on.

grandma and grandpa keller did an Easter egg hunt with the Keller cousins yesterday. here's the whole ganghendrix had fun :)they even hid a few cars... hendrix was very happy about thatsee? and sweet little ellie would find them and bring them to hendrix. so sweet :)holding hands...